Vote Due On Bids For Advanced Water Meters

Vote Due On Bids For Advanced Water Meters

WBAL's Steve Fermier reports on the likely vote on a new system of water meters for the city and Baltimore County Download This File

Plans are moving forward to replace tens of thousands of water meters in the city and Baltimore County.

The Board of Estimates is set to vote tomorrow on a recommendation to spend $85 million on a bid from a company that would install a state of the art system over the next four years.

It's believed the wireless system from Itron, Incorporated, of Washington state, would solve the persistent problem of inaccurate meter readings that have led to approximately $9 million dollars in refunds.

It's not likely that the Board will choose the competing bid from Dynis, of Columbia, which is offering a system that costs an addiditional $100 million over the Itron plan.

The lower bid actually includes installation of less sophisticated meters that would still require someone to read it for users in Baltimore County, according to The Sun.

Water bills are heading up by more than 40 percent over the next 3 years.